Decisively, Valor Christian now knows exactly where it stands in terms of allies in this state.

Though, the writing was on the wall.

In our series focusing on the rise of private schools that ran last month, Regis Jesuit football coach Mark Nolan correctly stated that the school got “blackballed” when it came to finding a league home for all sports but football, lacrosse and hockey. The move in football was a mere extension of that.

But, in his address to the council urging them to “get above, beyond whatever the issues are right now,” Angelico, the CHSAA commissioner, got one big thing right.

“We can’t make everybody happy,” he said, “but the bottom line is, in the name of sporting behavior, we have to get past that.”

Yes, Valor Christian has quickly risen to power, and done so, in the eyes of some, by stepping on others. The reputation in the prep community at large, earned or unearned, is one of arrogance. The school is working on fixing that, on mending (or, moreover, building) relationships.

Rod Sherman, the school’s athletic director, was sincere in his first address to the council Thursday.

“We have never purposefully intended to be insular and separate, but the urgency at developing our programs clouded our need to be better at communications and more deliberate in relationships,” Sherman said. “I sincerely apologize for this being the case.”

Valor has not yet earned an olive branch from the rest of the schools in the state, but, for the good of the state, maybe that’s exactly what needs to happen. The Continental or Centennial leagues (in football), and the Jeffco League (in all other sports) should step up and extend an invite.

Seemingly from the beginning, Valor Christian has put itself on an island. But it says it wants that to change.

When Sherman stepped to the podium a second time Thursday — after hearing, again, how his school didn’t deserve to be in a league — he almost seemed resigned to the anger directed his way.

“Good to be back,” he joked, to laughter.

Sherman was brief in encouraging the council to keep the Eagles in the Pioneer League: “Like we said before, we’d like to give our kids the opportunity to compete. We’d like to allow them to compete in this league, and we’d encourage you to vote no on this.”

What more was there to say?

In introducing the football amendment Thursday, Doherty athletic director Chris Noll said it wasn’t in the best interest of the kids in the Pioneer League to include Valor.

But is it really best for the kids of Castle View, Doherty, Fountain-Fort Carson, Heritage, Legend, Palmer and Rock Canyon to not have Valor Christian in the Pioneer League? Mind you, each school has pledged to keep their tentatively-scheduled regular season games with Valor. So, if they’re not simply trying to get out of games, what do those seven schools really want out of this move?

“If the concern is all-conference and all-those kinds of things — and this is a personal philosophy — but I don’t believe in that stuff,” Angelico told me Thursday. “We don’t have high school sports to highlight a child as all-conference. We’re there as a team activity.”

Essentially, that Valor Christian is an independent — and this applies to the non-football sports, too — won’t hurt them. It really doesn’t mean anything. It’s programs will still be able to qualify for the postseason, it still will be able to compete for championships. So, as was the case when the association’s member school voted to keep Valor on probationary status last month, all this independent stuff is largely symbolic.

But when does the in-fighting end? If Valor Christian’s going to change its insular approach, it’s going to need help from the rest of the state in doing so. Eventually, another school’s going to need to step up and accept that Valor wants to build a relationship.

Angelico’s message Thursday was one of unity.

“I think some of the agendas that are being forwarded amongst the membership are personal agendas … and our open-mindedness is being clouded,” Angelico said..

Valor should list their players’ home town next to their names in the game-day programs.

Why Not Strive For Excellence

What does their home town being listed in the program have to do with anything? When I read negative comments about Regis, Valor, and Mullen, all I can think of is IGNORANCE. If my kid(s) can be accepted in to any of those three schools, I would not hesitate to allow them to attend. Not only because of the GREAT Coaches and Sports Programs they have, but because of the SUPRERB ACADEMICS they offer! Sure is funny how I never hear any negative comments about Front Range Christian, Denver Christian, Holy Family, or other small schools like that. Is it because they haven’t been in a 4A or 5A football chmpionship? IGNORANCE I say!

What

I have only a few comments

1. Open enrollment throughout the area! Check all of the schools rosters vs residence. Plenty of “out of district students” in all schools.
2. 5A championship! Where were the private schools?
3. Booing kids at the Broncos game? Really? Really? Were you one of those?
4. Private school families still pay taxes to support public schools – double paying? sacrifice? Plenty of sacrifice to attend a private school that does not take any state money.

The conduct of our state employees (they are paid by all of us) is very disappointing. You call yourselves educators?

Dave

They should have their town listed to their name. Their state too. This is not about Academics, its about Athletics and using academics as as way to launder athletic recruits. Ignorance is to deny that.

Larrc

You actually think family’s move to Colorado to get recognition for their child’s football prowess? Maybe parents want their children in a school where kids can pray and are academically challenged. Those that hate Christianity don’t understand that motivation

Jlnewberry15

Plenty of negative comments from public schools who have had to play the private schools in 3A but CHSAA has turned a deaf ear. Private schools (Faith,Holy Family,Denver Christion ) have dominated for decades by recruiting and stacking teams. No one seemed to care about private schools until they moved into 4&5A and started kicking their butts. CHSAA needs to address issue in all leagues. Make privates play up or form their own league

Undecided

Well said Mr. Casey. I have to say this is perhaps one of the finest articles written over the last two months in regard to the CHSAA mess that has been Valor, Regis, Mullen, Public Schools.

Bravo!

Crestapartment

No apostrophe needed…

MMM

Why would anyone want to play a team that uses and has used unethical methods to acquire their top players? This is not personal, CHSAA does not want to address these issues in a firm matter then other means need to be employed. Everyone else has to play by the rules and so should Valor and Mullen. CHSAA has been skirting the issues for years. It is a standing joke around the coaching circles in the state over this issue and everyone knows it. Finally, the media picked up on this story and exposed it. Valor can only blame themselves. My have the mighty have fallen!

Undecided

It would seem you have insight to this matter. Does this extend to all sports or just for football?

Marty Moon

I have been a football coach at the high school level for over twenty-five years and have coached this sport all across the state and at all levels. Valor, Mullen, and some of the other private schools have destroyed the amateur nature of what high school athletics should be. This is high school football not professional football. What about the love of the game?

very dissapointed

Why is it that everyone has to believe everything in the media when we know that the media loves to stir things up. Everyone knows that the media has been all that honest in their reporting because the truth wouldn’t be nearly as interesting. Its really sad that people believe everything they read or hear. As an insider I know that Valor has not done anything illegal and its makes some of our athletes really sad to hear these accusations as I have heard from several of our best athletes that Valor never tried to recruit them, but several public and some other private schools came to their games and frequently emailed and called them. A lot of people at Valor know this has gone on but whats the point of naming names and trying to put other schools through the absolute nightmare that we have had to deal with. Our kids just want to play sports and its sad that a group of selfish adults have taken that away from them. Move on readers with your false information, CHSAA, and schools of Colorado and give Valor the chance that everyone else is getting.

Nuss Eric J

This happens at ALL the schools! Dig deeper. You will find case after case of intended or unintended manipulation and influence from adult coaches to kids and their parents in every school with an open enrollment option in this country. They will say there is a spot on the team, there is a home for your son… There is a chance for future scholarship under my guidance… private or public makes no matter. kids go to schools to have a chance to do something they love. Whether it be the school has the best band, football program, math and science support…. Where is the regulation in magnet schools? Where is the investigation by the Denver post on show choir programs? What about western schools and their strong ag programs? Should they all really be the same?
Someone at valor and someone at other community schools needs to get together and take on some leadership. Fca kids? Leadership is being begged for in this state among our youth… God is calling for someone to step up from the hollows… Someone with a voice… Is it you?

First, let me say I don’t have a horse in this race. Reading the other comments, it sounds like people have their biases and I understand that. I find this an interesting topic and surprised it gets so much attention…it’s high school. Kind of like Dave Logan and Mullen.

Having said that, there are definitely 3 sides to the story: public schools, private schools and something in the middle. From the Valor (also, Mullen, Regis, et. al.) point of view, they strive for excellence in everything…they are the haves. The public schools with their lack of resources come off as being jealous and small-minded. What I see as an independent observer is I can see where schools like Valor will raise the level of competition in the state. This will give those students more opportunities for athletic scholarships. I am amazed at how few star athletes come out of Colorado. For the size of state we have, why aren’t there more FBS scholarships coming from here. The same goes for basketball.

What the argument from the public schools makes me think of is Communism. How you ask? By showing that the masses (public schools) don’t want someone getting too far ahead. We live in a country of free enterprise. Only the small-minded will be jealous of people who get ahead instead of striving to make themselves better. Instead of throwing stones at the haves, find a way to move yourselves ahead. There is a valuable lesson here for the students of the public schools and that is to find a way to get better thus get ahead. If any parent out there could find a way to send their kids to these schools, they would (unless they have religiouos convictions against).

What is being demonstrated at this point by the public schools thus the students attending those schools is that if someone has something we don’t, then we black-ball them. That’s not how life is in these United States.

Skip517

Open Letter to CHSAA
I am very disturbed with the recent turmoil within CHSAA and their dealings with Valor Christian. Lately it seems like a modern day witch hunt with the student athletes suffering while the supposed adults on the both sides of the argument acting like the children.

I have no association with Valor Christian but my opinion is that it is a elite school with some well-funded families that enable the school to spend a lot more money on athletics than public schools. Does this create an imbalance? Sure it does but money does not always buy success as demonstrated by plenty of professional teams. Coaches still must coach and athletes still need to work to excel. The fact that Valor has been very successful on the athletic field seems to have disturbed of lot of other schools who are now fixated on getting revenge on the “bully” by casting them out.

Your mission statement is:
“In pursuit of excellence, the Colorado High School Activities Association strives to create a positive and equitable environment in which all qualified student participants are challenged and inspired to meet their highest potential.”

Because some families are able to afford sending their children to Valor, those student athletes are now punished because of their success. How is this any different then Denver magnet schools where students can apply outside of their geographical area so that they can achieve success in the studies that captivate their imagination.

Mullen, another private school that has had athletic success, has seen the same criticism but not to the level as shown towards Valor Christian.

It is my hope that both sides of this situation can put aside personal grievances and come to a reasonable compromise so that the children are not made to suffer.

Valor Must Fall

The Media is not stirring anything up. There is more to be told, I am sure of this. I love what Valor’s mission is but how they try to achieve it is far from what Christianity teaches. Valor Christian has violated rules over and over again in a short school history. I’m glad that schools are stepping up and doing what is right for everyone.
I am no fan of Valor, so yes, I might be a little bias. But it has been demonstrated that they have cheated their way to the top. Take the Brock Berglund story for example. Also, running up the score 66-10 in a state championship when you clearly had the game but you kept your starters in until the 4th quarter just to score that much? That is just down right low-life type people there. Valor athletics are disturbing to me that it has become so much about all this power and a certain agenda. I really hope to see them fall.

don’tletthefactsswayyou

Take the Brock Berglund story for what example? Do you know Brock? Are you aware that he has given a statement to Valor that he was not shown film until after he had enrolled at Valor? Do you know that he has also stated that he was not recruited to go to Valor? Since you seem to know the situation so well, why don’t you call him and ask him.

Valor hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing in quite some time, and there is no evidence that Valor has been recruiting athletes (now or ever). CHSAA would love to be out of this mess by throwing Valor under the bus, but Valor has responded to every allegation to CHSAA’s satisfaction (and there have been many unfounded ones, especially lately). Valor was NOT denied admission to a league for recruiting/cheating. It was for failing to do the proper work to gain entrance to a league beforehand.

Considering the absence of any real evidence of recruiting, cheating, or not “playing by the same rules”, how is it that you have the audacity to call the people that work there “low-lifes”. If you have evidence of wrongdoing, give it here, or report it to Valor, or better yet, CHSAA. Until then you should probably keep your judgements to yourself.

Valor has violated rules “over and over again”. Please, almost all of those violations are self-reported. They are unfortunate, yes, but if you think Valor is the only team to allow kids to play without physicals or have a JV coach red-carded, you are sadly mistaken. Maybe they should do what every other school does and try to sweep things under the rug rather than cooperating with investigations and paying penalties. Then, I suppose you would have a lot less to talk about.

Psmsports

Don’tlikethefacts,
I thought I had already educated you in the other thread. Apparently you have comprehension fail when negative facts about Valor Christian arise. I will copy and paste the Brock Berglund article and then send the link in my next post.

Berglund told The Post he was in eighth grade when he met with members of
Valor’s football staff and talked about the program with coaches. He was even
given tapes of the offense Valor’s coaches ran at their previous school, Orange
Lutheran in California, he said. All this happened before he enrolled there, he
said. It is against CHSAA rules to target an eighth-grader using sports as a
recruiting tool.
“There was no way I was going to go there,” Berglund said, “and then out of
the blue, I was like, ‘I like this place.’ Talking to the coach, I was like,
‘Oh, this is the place I want to end up going.’ “

Don’tlikethefacts-Scroll down to to the area marked “Widening gray area”. Maybe you should contact Brock to see what the real story is.

Nuss Eric J

My highschool was very 57-7 in a state championship between two public schools in Iowa in the hay days if Tim dwight. They extended the mercy rule in the 3rd quarter ending the game. It was humiliating. We never forgot the lessons learned from such a tail whooping. We put a target on city high for all sports and relished in victory ay every opportunity. Blame blame blame. 10 blue ribbons for the top 10 winners! Time to wake up Colorado/america! Being second is no fun is it!? So you have 2 choices. Join them. Or beat them. The bs course you have chosen is not only communistic but lacks all democratic, judiciary responsibility. Now you teach children this: quit or file suite if things get real bad. Abandon ship on all other accounts. It’s ok to lose as long as its not to someone with more resources. It’s ok to make excuses. It’s best to blame, cast judgement, and find guilt without undeniable proof.

Why don’t you File the complaint. Complete the investigation. Assess fine/penalty if needed. And move forward.

Your actions today will affect 10s of 1000s. Think of the long term affects of the Smu scandal. It broke the conference. It nearly destroyed the state.

I wish all schools were equal too… But god didn’t make robots. He gave us choices. Choices to be different and chose what we want to do with our lives… Like open enrollment.

Jeff Arnold

From the beginning it appeared that Valor football was aiming at being a national power, and money was no object. I think CHSAA is almost irrelevant to them. If they and other private schools with parents wiling to spend money on sports, think that’s fair competition, I strongly disagree.

I assume Mr. Angelico did not mean that individual sports are less important than team sports, I think he ought to recuse himself from any decisions involving cross country, track, swimming, lwrestling, etc.

Be fair and balanced

This is an email exchange I had with CHASSA:

What an excellent and well thought out email. I am appreciative that you would take the time to respond. The only problem I had with your email is your statements about the state championship game. It sounds like CHASSA believes in a bell shaped curve approach to sports, meaning everyone gets a ribbon! Does your children’s club sport teams make games close so everyone has a good time? I doubt it. This is not the right approach and may be where we differ. The real world hires you based on being the best at what you do. Why should football be any different. Did you know that the first 6 plays of the game Pine Creek had 12 players on the field and the coach knew it!!!! He later stated that the refs were not catching on to it so he let it continue!!!! The ref committee later studied the film and confirmed that indeed had happened!!! Funny I did not hear of CHASSA getting involved with Pine Creek and giving out any violations!!! They admitted to cheating! Had Valor acted in this manner they would have been burned at the stake!

In closing, I ask you to think about this, Valor has no recent violations that I am aware of in football, in fact there have been more violations by public schools, such as practicing with helmets on up north. So why did Valor get all of the persecution this year? If I read your email, it sounds like we need to stop winning by so many points. Reality is that Pine Creek going into the state championship game had more total points scored for the season and had crushed everyone of their opponents by ridiculous margins. In fact their average winning margin was 35 points a game! They were a mirror image of Valor going into the state championship game so I think your statement about crushing the spirit of 50 young men is a little off base, especially since Pine Creek beat Littleton 63-0, Rampart 49-7, Palmer 44-3, Pueblo West 49-13, Falcon 52-9, Liberty 63-7, Rock Canyon 41-0. And by the way, Pine Creek is the most hated team in the springs and is accused of recruiting all the time, and you know why? Because they are really good. And as such they deserve respect. Whereas Valor, which had a team that came from
4 wins and 6 losses three years earlier and rose to excellence with the same players from the beginning was hated and accused of numerous things by the public and CHASSA alike!!! Valor had no violations this year and yet they are still the villains.

Paul should have put Valor in a league in Highlands Ranch or in Mullen’s league. Your job at CHASSA should be to insure fair play, and if Valor has violations then punish them. But to go on tv and create a firestorm because you don’t like the athletic director or the margin of victory is just ridiculous.

Good luck to CHASSA I think they are going to need it. You guys created this mess by listening to the loudest complainers instead of leading………

On Jan 21, 2012, at 3:52 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

I am sorry, after reading your email, I get it now. There is a distorted perception about the Mission of the Association. Our role is act as an integral component to the educational process, to administrate the By-Laws as put forth by our 70 member Legislative Council (Administrators, School Board members, Principals, Superintendents, etc) provide an environment that fosters character building, leadership, teamwork, competition and citizenship as well as recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Colorado teams, athletes, coaches, and administrators through our academic and athletic programs in a fair and equitable manner. Our core values center around participation being a privilege not a right. If we lose sight of our mission then we do become an organization of very little educational value or leadership. I don’t believe that students en masse will leave the high school experience to attend an educational institution for national visibility. I think you can only speak to your perception or that of your friends when you say that a parent’s perspective is that high school participation is only about college. I am raising two talented athletes that participate on the elite club level. If they were given a choice of club or high school competition, they would hands down pick high school. The CHSAA is not there to make sure they get in or participate on the collegiate level and both have been offered.. They have been provided the opportunity to represent their schools with educationally based, structured programs. That is What CHSAA is about. The parents, I know “ Get That” and we seek additional ways to give our children diverse opportunities for athletics outside of CHSAA.

Paul, is and will continue to be a highly respected voice and face of this Association. I know you won’t believe this but with both the Valor and Mullen issues, his phone and emails are off the hook with support and KUDO’s for his leadership and honesty in addressing the issues. I can agree with you that some of the schools in our Association have formed negative opinions when it comes Valor , some based on perceptions, some based on fact, and most assuredly many based on the school’s athletic prowess in football. Don’t get it twisted, Paul didn’t create that statewide sentiment (66-10, didn’t help the Valor cause). No amount of rationalization or explanations can justify humiliating and crushing the spirit the 50+ young men representing Pine Creek in the Championships. Everyone expects a winner but…. That one game spoke louder to our membership and the public than any statement that has come from this office. That is the reality. It is not the Commissioners or our staffs position to act as a public relations agent for individual member schools. There has to be a level of accountability for the negative public and membership perceptions of Valor on those making decisions. Paul has had several meetings with members of the Valor administrative team to identify issues and work together to deescalate the ill will that is evident within the membership. In the end it is about the student-participants of Valor and his goal is to make their experience as positive as the student-participants at Aurora Central, Dove Creek, Limon, etc. This won’t happen overnight but rest assured, if the Valor administration is committed to changing the perceptions, Commissioner Angelico will be their strongest advocate.

Hope this helps.. I am not going to respond to further emails on this subject (even if you won’t delete me from your CC listJ) but just wanted to let you know.. Our staff under Paul’s leadership is all about fair and equitable opportunities for all member schools including Valor.

Don’t you find it odd that Paul would come out with the comments he did, and stir up things now? And then try be the peacemaker at the meeting. The last violation Valor had was 2 years ago. And none in recent history in regards to football. No one started complaining until Valor beat all of its 5A opponents. Sour grapes. Rhonda, there is something going on here. So now you have an even bigger problem. What are you going to do when Valor is even more successful on a national stage? Kids will leave public schools in mass to get the education and sports opportunities at Valor. Because at the end of the day, from a parents perspective, it’s about getting to college. Do you think all the parents that were mad at the Mullen meeting were upset because Logan is gone? No! They are mad because they no this will affect their child’s ability to go to college. Like or not that is the facts! Wake up CHASA! Paul, and CHASA have created a vicious cycle now. This could have been avoided by leading through strength and not by committee. And no I will not remove you from the email list. If CHASA starts leading I will also send letters of support and praise. Bottom line- lead don’t follow.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 19, 2012, at 4:02 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

It is a pleasure to work for Paul. I aspire to have the integrity and leadership he displays. I relish in the opportunity to defend him.. Remove me from your Cc list. Thanks Rhonda

Be Fair and Balanced wrote:

Paul I was sorely disappointed in your behavior at the meeting, “We’ve got to be able to find common ground”, What a joke since you helped propagate this problem with your interviews with the media and adversarial stance. I really believe leadership at the top is needed and you’re not the person. I’ve seen evidence time and time again. I’m sure you won’t respond to my email, heck I wouldn’t either with the amount of law suits you probably have going against you right now.

On Jan 19, 2012, at 4:02 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

It is a pleasure to work for Paul. I aspire to have the integrity and leadership he displays. I relish in the opportunity to defend him.. Remove me from your Cc list. Thanks Rhonda

Be Fair and Balanced wrote:

Paul I was sorely disappointed in your behavior at the meeting, “We’ve got to be able to find common ground”, What a joke since you helped propagate this problem with your interviews with the media and adversarial stance. I really believe leadership at the top is needed and you’re not the person. I’ve seen evidence time and time again. I’m sure you won’t respond to my email, heck I wouldn’t either with the amount of law suits you probably have going against you right now.

What an excellent and well thought out email. I am appreciative that you would take the time to respond. The only problem I had with your email is your statements about the state championship game. It sounds like CHASSA believes in a bell shaped curve approach to sports, meaning everyone gets a ribbon! Does your children’s club sport teams make games close so everyone has a good time? I doubt it. This is not the right approach and may be where we differ. The real world hires you based on being the best at what you do. Why should football be any different. Did you know that the first 6 plays of the game Pine Creek had 12 players on the field and the coach knew it!!!! He later stated that the refs were not catching on to it so he let it continue!!!! The ref committee later studied the film and confirmed that indeed had happened!!! Funny I did not hear of CHASSA getting involved with Pine Creek and giving out any violations!!! They admitted to cheating! Had Valor acted in this manner they would have been burned at the stake!

In closing, I ask you to think about this, Valor has no recent violations that I am aware of in football, in fact there have been more violations by public schools, such as practicing with helmets on up north. So why did Valor get all of the persecution this year? If I read your email, it sounds like we need to stop winning by so many points. Reality is that Pine Creek going into the state championship game had more total points scored for the season and had crushed everyone of their opponents by ridiculous margins. In fact their average winning margin was 35 points a game! They were a mirror image of Valor going into the state championship game so I think your statement about crushing the spirit of 50 young men is a little off base, especially since Pine Creek beat Littleton 63-0, Rampart 49-7, Palmer 44-3, Pueblo West 49-13, Falcon 52-9, Liberty 63-7, Rock Canyon 41-0. And by the way, Pine Creek is the most hated team in the springs and is accused of recruiting all the time, and you know why? Because they are really good. And as such they deserve respect. Whereas Valor, which had a team that came from
4 wins and 6 losses three years earlier and rose to excellence with the same players from the beginning was hated and accused of numerous things by the public and CHASSA alike!!! Valor had no violations this year and yet they are still the villains.

Paul should have put Valor in a league in Highlands Ranch or in Mullen’s league. Your job at CHASSA should be to insure fair play, and if Valor has violations then punish them. But to go on tv and create a firestorm because you don’t like the athletic director or the margin of victory is just ridiculous.

Good luck to CHASSA I think they are going to need it. You guys created this mess by listening to the loudest complainers instead of leading………

On Jan 21, 2012, at 3:52 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

I am sorry, after reading your email, I get it now. There is a distorted perception about the Mission of the Association. Our role is act as an integral component to the educational process, to administrate the By-Laws as put forth by our 70 member Legislative Council (Administrators, School Board members, Principals, Superintendents, etc) provide an environment that fosters character building, leadership, teamwork, competition and citizenship as well as recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Colorado teams, athletes, coaches, and administrators through our academic and athletic programs in a fair and equitable manner. Our core values center around participation being a privilege not a right. If we lose sight of our mission then we do become an organization of very little educational value or leadership. I don’t believe that students en masse will leave the high school experience to attend an educational institution for national visibility. I think you can only speak to your perception or that of your friends when you say that a parent’s perspective is that high school participation is only about college. I am raising two talented athletes that participate on the elite club level. If they were given a choice of club or high school competition, they would hands down pick high school. The CHSAA is not there to make sure they get in or participate on the collegiate level and both have been offered.. They have been provided the opportunity to represent their schools with educationally based, structured programs. That is What CHSAA is about. The parents, I know “ Get That” and we seek additional ways to give our children diverse opportunities for athletics outside of CHSAA.

Paul, is and will continue to be a highly respected voice and face of this Association. I know you won’t believe this but with both the Valor and Mullen issues, his phone and emails are off the hook with support and KUDO’s for his leadership and honesty in addressing the issues. I can agree with you that some of the schools in our Association have formed negative opinions when it comes Valor , some based on perceptions, some based on fact, and most assuredly many based on the school’s athletic prowess in football. Don’t get it twisted, Paul didn’t create that statewide sentiment (66-10, didn’t help the Valor cause). No amount of rationalization or explanations can justify humiliating and crushing the spirit the 50+ young men representing Pine Creek in the Championships. Everyone expects a winner but…. That one game spoke louder to our membership and the public than any statement that has come from this office. That is the reality. It is not the Commissioners or our staffs position to act as a public relations agent for individual member schools. There has to be a level of accountability for the negative public and membership perceptions of Valor on those making decisions. Paul has had several meetings with members of the Valor administrative team to identify issues and work together to deescalate the ill will that is evident within the membership. In the end it is about the student-participants of Valor and his goal is to make their experience as positive as the student-participants at Aurora Central, Dove Creek, Limon, etc. This won’t happen overnight but rest assured, if the Valor administration is committed to changing the perceptions, Commissioner Angelico will be their strongest advocate.

Hope this helps.. I am not going to respond to further emails on this subject (even if you won’t delete me from your CC listJ) but just wanted to let you know.. Our staff under Paul’s leadership is all about fair and equitable opportunities for all member schools including Valor.

Don’t you find it odd that Paul would come out with the comments he did, and stir up things now? And then try be the peacemaker at the meeting. The last violation Valor had was 2 years ago. And none in recent history in regards to football. No one started complaining until Valor beat all of its 5A opponents. Sour grapes. Rhonda, there is something going on here. So now you have an even bigger problem. What are you going to do when Valor is even more successful on a national stage? Kids will leave public schools in mass to get the education and sports opportunities at Valor. Because at the end of the day, from a parents perspective, it’s about getting to college. Do you think all the parents that were mad at the Mullen meeting were upset because Logan is gone? No! They are mad because they no this will affect their child’s ability to go to college. Like or not that is the facts! Wake up CHASA! Paul, and CHASA have created a vicious cycle now. This could have been avoided by leading through strength and not by committee. And no I will not remove you from the email list. If CHASA starts leading I will also send letters of support and praise. Bottom line- lead don’t follow.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 19, 2012, at 4:02 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

It is a pleasure to work for Paul. I aspire to have the integrity and leadership he displays. I relish in the opportunity to defend him.. Remove me from your Cc list. Thanks Rhonda

Be Fair and Balanced wrote:

Paul I was sorely disappointed in your behavior at the meeting, “We’ve got to be able to find common ground”, What a joke since you helped propagate this problem with your interviews with the media and adversarial stance. I really believe leadership at the top is needed and you’re not the person. I’ve seen evidence time and time again. I’m sure you won’t respond to my email, heck I wouldn’t either with the amount of law suits you probably have going against you right now.

A Voice of Reason

The structure of high school athletics in Colorado is a joke. I began my coaching career in Colorado in the late 80’s and moved to Texas in the mid 1990’s. The governing body in Texas does not have a hard cap to determine levels of competition. When a hard number is established, schools can manipulate enrollment to stay at or below that number. In the UIL you may not play up or down, you play to your enrollment. Private schools do compete in the UIL. Dallas Jesuit is a private school competing in the UIL, but they accept the very strict rules laid out by the governing body. Many private schools do not wish to operate under UIL rules so they participate in a different organization.
Colorado is the wild west of high school athletics. Rules are not applied equally to all member schools. CHSAA is a weak organization. Ethics within the coaching ranks are questionable because it is not a profession in Colorado. Anyone who can pass a background check and get a CPR card can coach. Look at your school and see how many of the coaches working at your high school are certified professionals. Dave Logan no matter how knowledgeable he may be could not coach in Texas. He is not a certified teacher. In many schools in that state, the head football coach is a certified administrator.
I don’t think anybody really disputes that Valor, Mullen and Regis have a right to exist and field high school athletic programs, but CHSAA needs to create a system that is fair to all of it’s members. Shouldn’t competition be fair? As for the quality athletics in Colorado, ask the folks at Pomona or Bear Creak what 5A football looks like in Texas.

WERBRMFIELD

Puke! Just Like Mullen, Regis, Holy Family etc, you all need to play ur own kinda game.

PUBLIS SCHOOLS RULE!

Undecided

What a great post. Educated. Intelligent. Well spoken.
It only goes to speak how wonderful our “Publis Schools” education is today. How far we have fallen.

Billsfanco

Hum… I guess spelling is not a requirement in “publis” schools!

Befairandbalanced

Here are a few more emails from CHSSA :
It is in email reply form so start from the bottom:

Actual conversation before the game started. Someone in a conversation said Valor would run up the score. I said no way, they will score to win decisively and then shut it down. I said they don’t want the backlash.. I was shocked, but not my place to judge. We have routs in every classfication and throughout the season but my point is when you are sitting the fence for acceptance in a culture that is looking for any sign to criticize or ostracize, you have to do things a little differently.That is the reality,. I am not suggesting lowering your standard but filtering how actions/comments will be percieved. CHSAA should not have step in defend a score of 66-10 with starters still in, that scenario doesn’t feel good to anyone outside of the Valor community. I wouldn’t waste my time reciting stats to callers. Please know that our office has never had to defend a school more. It does get old. If you ask Rod, he will tell you that our office not only defended Valor but I personnally tore into the Littleton AD when he called our office to cancel the game at such a late hour. Paul was very vocal in the paper that their actions were not right and they were sanctioned.. We, as a staff look forward to moving past percieved and real issues and assisting the school administration in creating scenarios that help to establish Valor as a colleague in the State Association. :) RBG

You have made me think and reflect on my opinions and I would ask the same of you. Be open minded and read the following and tell me if Valor is being judged fairly.

Here is what I mean by lead not follow. When people called and complained about the score of the game CHSAA should have said: Why didn’t you call to complain over scores from the past 5 years? Here are scores from the playoffs over the last 5 years- by the way I took this directly from your website:

Rhonda, wouldn’t you agree that Valor is being held to a different standard than all of the teams listed above. I mean really, did the same members call to complain about the games above? No I don’t think so. That’s why you guys need to lead. Please give me your opinion on this email. I really want your honest answer.

On Jan 21, 2012, at 8:48 PM, Rhonda Blanford-Green wrote:

You would have to know my athletic excellence to know that I am all about the win. As I stated our membership and the public flooded our office with calls and emails about the game. They, not us form their own opinions about what was sportsmanlike. Mullen in their heyday was known to beat their opponents pretty soundly but would end their games by taking out starters and calling plays that didn’t run up the score. In business I want to be best but I wouldn’t humiliate a fellow colleague to prove that I was the best and Pine Creek is a fellow colleague to Valor under the CHSAA umbrella. As I said choices were made and no matter the rationale, the membership and public saw it differently. Regarding Paul, he didn’t have the authority to put Valor in a league. He did everything he could do to stir the Legislative Council in that direction. They, not Paul made the final decision. It really isn’t a mess for us Administratively but none of us like that Valor programs arent in leagues. Truthfully, Football should not be in a league if girls soccer, Volleyball, and other sports at Valor are not. The CHSAA staff will be working diligently with the Valor administration to get those programs in a league but it will take commitment on the Valor administration. Trust and Goodwill have to be rebuilt with the membership and the public. Actions will speak louder than any words. :)

Be Fair and Balanced wrote:

What an excellent and well thought out email. I am appreciative that you would take the time to respond. The only problem I had with your email is your statements about the state championship game. It sounds like CHASSA believes in a bell shaped curve approach to sports, meaning everyone gets a ribbon! Does your children’s club sport teams make games close so everyone has a good time? I doubt it. This is not the right approach and may be where we differ. The real world hires you based on being the best at what you do. Why should football be any different. Did you know that the first 6 plays of the game Pine Creek had 12 players on the field and the coach knew it!!!! He later stated that the refs were not catching on to it so he let it continue!!!! The ref committee later studied the film and confirmed that indeed had happened!!! Funny I did not hear of CHASSA getting involved with Pine Creek and giving out any violations!!! They admitted to cheating! Had Valor acted in this manner they would have been burned at the stake!

In closing, I ask you to think about this, Valor has no recent violations that I am aware of in football, in fact there have been more violations by public schools, such as practicing with helmets on up north. So why did Valor get all of the persecution this year? If I read your email, it sounds like we need to stop winning by so many points. Reality is that Pine Creek going into the state championship game had more total points scored for the season and had crushed everyone of their opponents by ridiculous margins. In fact their average winning margin was 35 points a game! They were a mirror image of Valor going into the state championship game so I think your statement about crushing the spirit of 50 young men is a little off base, especially since Pine Creek beat Littleton 63-0, Rampart 49-7, Palmer 44-3, Pueblo West 49-13, Falcon 52-9, Liberty 63-7, Rock Canyon 41-0. And by the way, Pine Creek is the most hated team in the springs and is accused of recruiting all the time, and you know why? Because they are really good. And as such they deserve respect. Whereas Valor, which had a team that came from
4 wins and 6 losses three years earlier and rose to excellence with the same players from the beginning was hated and accused of numerous things by the public and CHASSA alike!!! Valor had no violations this year and yet they are still the villains.

Paul should have put Valor in a league in Highlands Ranch or in Mullen’s league. Your job at CHASSA should be to insure fair play, and if Valor has violations then punish them. But to go on tv and create a firestorm because you don’t like the athletic director or the margin of victory is just ridiculous.

Good luck to CHASSA I think they are going to need it. You guys created this mess by listening to the loudest complainers instead of leading………

Brian

Great discussion here. I am a high school coach 13 years who formerlly worked for the school that forfeited against Valor this fall. The nature of that circumstance bears bringing to light. This school was 1-7, had many/most of the varsity seniors quit by this time, many injuries, and were down to 23 healthy players, 18 of those being JV sophomores and freshman. The AD called Valor before the game to express this, stating that they would still play if Valor would bring just their JV players. Valor said no way, that they were going for the scoring record this year and would “hang 100” on the team. The school then chose a forfeit out of safety to their players (players were calling in sick the last day so as not to have to face this). Nothing constructive could have possibly come from that game, for the winner or for the loser. Valor leadership has a noted absence of consideration for the impacts of it’s approach to other schools.

I believe this really has little to do with the student athletes at Valor; it has all to do with the adults in leadership setting the tone for what the student athletes accomplish. Given an approach like above for years where Valor has shown little to no concern for other schools and community relations, what did they expect could happen?
I don’t believe the “it’s all jealousy” card being thrown out here. Our school has serious rivalries with local schools, and still there’s a level of respect given between AD’s, between coaches, that translates to positive life lessons for the athletes on the field. It’s ultimately about some level of sportsmanship and looking out for well-being of all.

Trust between schools and Valor is at an all-time low, and I cannot see them reestablishing that trust until the leadership there A) takes ownership over past wrongs, and/or B) has a serious turnover to new staff. So far, the approach of, “We’re going to do whatever it takes, everyone else be damned,” is what got them to this stage.

Here’s to hoping cooler heads prevail and Valor and their student athletes get continued opportunities to show their excellence as well as build some good will with their competition, that ultimately “win at all costs” is not their primary goal.

David Adkins

If we took scholarships out of the equation. I think Regis, Mullen, Valor, Holy Family, Faith Christian, and all other private schools would die off when it comes to sports. They would become a moot point. If you make scholarships illegal for athletes, we would balance colorado sports. Simple solution, enforcing it would be a problem. Private schools would invoke privacy. To be a CHSAA member the would need to prove the athletes can pay their own tuition and afford it. Otherwise start another league for private high schools only. You know it is “the haves and have nots”. Public vs private schools.

Cherry Creek Alum

What is so sad about the Valor discrimination..and that is what it is .( Hear me..DISCRIMINATION).is that it is the kids that are taken the repercussions of political driven AD and CHSAA lack of backbone. Since i is apparent that every team is afraid to play Valor..why not rote leagues…also..Gee if such a power..they did not take a state in any other fall sport .not in Boys Tennis…not in Boys Soccer….not in Boys Golf…not in Girls Softball…not in Cross Country….These South Metro schools are so close..they kids know each otehr ..the competition make everyone better…and rivals..makes the sports better. The Douglas county and Littelton school should invite Valor into their leagues…because it is the right thing to do…for the kids

David Adkins

Would the kids still attend any of these private schools if they had to pay their own way?

Cherry Creek is not afraid of the competition because of the Coaches they have. Mark Johnson does not have to recruit. Soon to be Dave Logan at Cherry Creek will not have to recruit. Kids flock to Cherry Creek because they believe they get a leg up on getting into college. I know your one of your starting baseball players attends Cherry Creek and his brother and family live up north. So, what. I applaud him and his family taking a shot to get him into the best solution for his future.

I know of one kid that I coached in youth football was sent info on the facilities at one of the private schools. subtle recruiting. The kid might have attended. But, his family is poor and had no way of getting him across town to the school.

Recruiting is a problem by the private schools. Take away the scholarship for their tuition of the athletes and let them recruit the best team they can line up. If someone else is paying their tuition, then they are a paid athlete.

Do you really want Dynasties created by Scholarship Athletes? Let them openly recruit any and all kids. Just make sure that they pay their own way. The private schools are the club teams and the rest of us are rec. teams.

Larryc

For Colorado schools to reject the opportunity to play and promote the best in competition magnifies the juvenile nature of the state sports leadership. I frankly would prefer competition versus false humility on the part of the leaders who voted to reject valor

Larryc

When the coaches at valor were assistance here in California at Lutheran high school growing from small to large school program they helped create a disciplined program. The team played state power house and large private school programs like mater dei and beat them

Larryc

Colorado and denver colorado springs schools instead of being jealous of valor should create a “valor” type program at their schoolsType your comment here.

Larryc

Colorado and denver colorado springs schools instead of being jealous of valor should create a “valor” type program at their schools

Creek Alum

LarryC…I could not agree more with your insight…Valor will make all the other schools better..then when the other schools do beat them…and it will happen..the whole point will be mute. They have gone from 3A to 4A…now into 5A…the playing field will be even. The Doughtery AD eats Tyson Chicken every night

Neil Devlin, originally from the Philadelphia area, has covered high school sports in Colorado for more than 30 years, writing about the people, athletes and events that encompass the Rocky Mountain prep sports world.